WHALE Rider author Witi Ihimaera has been awarded a top French arts honour, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters).
Bien joué, Witi
French Ambassador Florence Jeanblanc-Risler presented the writer with the award at a Bastille Day ceremony in Auckland. Jeanblanc-Risler called Ihimaera a “trailblazer in Maori literature and screenwriting”. “Journalist, diplomat, producer, editor, academic; you’ve had many lives, but storytelling has always been at the core of what you do. Your works and reflections have made a key contribution to indigenous worldviews, enabling Maori culture, customs and legacy to be discovered and enjoyed by thousands in New Zealand and overseas. Several of your books have been translated into French.” The Order of Arts and Letters recognises significant contributions to the development of arts, music and literature. NZ Herald picture
